Automation of Java application using enhanced late-bound support

Abstract

A Java/COM bridge provides enhanced late-bound COM-to-Java support. The Java/COM bridge allows a COM application to make a late bound call to a Java class in a Java application wherein the late bound call contains a parameter indicating that the Java class should not be instantiated. The Java/COM bridge returns to the COM application a static COM proxy representing the Java class without instantiating the Java class. Using the static COM proxy, the COM application can call static methods and reference static variables of the Java class. The COM application can also call constructors of the Java class that take parameters by passing the parameters without specifying a method. The Java/COM bridge will identify the Java class constructor based on the specified parameters and instantiate a Java object by calling the identified constructor with the specified parameters.

1 . A Java/COM bridge method providing enhanced late-bound COM-to-Java support, comprising: 
 receiving a late bound call from a COM application to a Java class in a Java application;    said late bound call containing a parameter indicating that said Java class should not be instantiated; and    returning to said COM application a static COM proxy representing said Java class without instantiating said Java class.    
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further including receiving a static method call from said COM application using said static COM proxy and invoking a static method of said Java class.  
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further including receiving a static method call from said COM application using said static COM proxy and referencing a static variable of said Java class.  
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further including receiving parameters from said COM application without a Java class method being specified and instantiating said Java class using a constructor of said Java class that takes said parameters.  
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  further including said Java application creating and registering a COM container object in a COM running object table, said COM container object maintaining a reference to a Java classloader that loads said Java class and including a method for instantiating a static COM object corresponding to said static COM proxy and initializing said static COM object so that it holds a reference to said Java class without instantiating said Java class.  
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said static COM object further includes a method for calling static methods of said Java class.  
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said static COM object further includes a method for referencing static variables of said Java class.  
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 5  wherein static COM object further includes a method for receiving parameters specified by said COM application without identifying a method, searching for a constructor in said Java class that takes said parameters, instantiating a Java object from said Java class using said constructor and said parameters, and returning a COM proxy referencing said instantiated Java object.  
     
     
         9 . A computer program product for providing a Java/COM bridge with enhanced late-bound COM-to-Java support, comprising: 
 one or more machine-useable media;    means provided by said one or more machine-useable media for programming a data processing platform to operate as by:    receiving a late bound call from a COM application to a Java class in a Java application;    said late bound call containing a parameter indicating that said Java class should not be instantiated; and    returning to said COM application a static COM proxy representing said Java class without instantiating said Java class.    
     
     
         10 . A computer program product in accordance with  claim 9  further including programming for receiving a static method call from said COM application using said static COM proxy and invoking a static method of said Java class.  
     
     
         11 . A computer program product in accordance with  claim 9  further including programming for receiving a static method call from said COM application using said static COM proxy and referencing a static variable of said Java class.  
     
     
         12 . A computer program product in accordance with  claim 9  further including programming for receiving parameters from said COM application without a Java class method being specified and instantiating said Java class using a constructor of said Java class that takes said parameters.  
     
     
         13 . A computer program product in accordance with  claim 9  further including programming for said Java application creating and registering a COM container object in a COM running object table, said COM container object maintaining a reference to a Java classloader that loads said Java class and including a method for instantiating a static COM object corresponding to said static COM proxy and initializing said static COM object so that it holds a reference to said Java class without instantiating said Java class.  
     
     
         14 . A computer program product in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said static COM object further includes a method for calling static methods of said Java class.  
     
     
         15 . A computer program product in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said static COM object further includes a method for referencing static variables of said Java class.  
     
     
         16 . A computer program product in accordance with  claim 13  wherein static COM object further includes a method for receiving parameters specified by said COM application without identifying a method, searching for a constructor in said Java class that takes said parameters, instantiating a Java object from said Java class using said constructor and said parameters, and returning a COM proxy referencing said instantiated Java object.  
     
     
         17 . A data processing system implementing a Java/COM bridge with enhanced late-bound COM-to-Java support, comprising: 
 Java application means for implementing a Java class;    COM application means for issuing a late bound call to said Java class;    a COM container object registered in a COM running object table, said COM container object maintaining a reference to a Java classloader that loads said Java class and including a method for instantiating a static COM object corresponding to said static COM proxy and initializing said static COM object so that it holds a reference to said Java class without instantiating said Java class.    
     
     
         18 . A system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said static COM object further includes a method for calling static methods of said Java class.  
     
     
         19 . A system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said static COM object further includes a method for referencing static variables of said Java class.  
     
     
         20 . A system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein static COM object further includes a method for receiving parameters specified by said COM application without a method, searching for a constructor in said Java class that takes said parameters, instantiating a Java object from said Java class using said constructor and said parameters, and returning a COM proxy referencing said instantiated Java object.